298 Catalogue of Brand Material.
I2TH DECEMBER -ST. FINAN'S EVE (FEILL FIONNAIN). St. Finan, Confessor, Bishop of Clonard, Ireland, 6th century. SCOTLAND, IRELAND. Names and Sayings. observed in
The longest night in the year - - Hebrides. " As dark as St. Finan's night " - Ihid. Saying.
" On this night water becomes wine and stones cheese." (Boys persuaded to experiment) - Ihid. " The day of the three suppers " - Sutherland (Mackay
country). Festivity proverbially compared to Christmas . - . -
DECEMBER 13TH— ST. MAGNUS' DAY.
St. Magnus, Bishop of Orkney, 1104.
Name. St. Magnusmas - - - Orkney (Birsay), Shet-
land. (Formerly an important local festival.)
DECEMBER 17TH—" SOW-DAY." Observance.
Sows slaughtered (1793) - - - Orkney (Sandwick).
ENGLAND. DECEMBER i6th— ST. TIBBA. (Local virgin saint locally honoured.)
Annual festival ... - - Rutland (Ryhall, Hale
Green).
DECEMBER i6th— O SAPIENTIA.
(Opening words of Proper Anthem.)
Schoolboys' Festival .... Oxford, 17th cent.
Somerset (Curry Yeo-
vil). School Hohdays began - - - Northumberland.
